From left, Carlos Guillen, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria finish up a workout at Tigers camp. AP

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Cabrera comes with a reputation for being a fun-loving kid, but Tigers people chalk up some of the late-night scuttlebutt to exaggeration. "He's had four great years. So people try to find something negative,'' Avila said. "Quite frankly, I think he's handled it well. He's growing as a man.''

Added Leyland, "He's 24, he's playing in the big leagues and he has a little money in his pocket; he's supposed to have a good time.''

Cabrera, meanwhile, suggested the good times he's thinking about now involve the sport he loves. "I'm going to learn a lot here. I'm going to settle down,'' Cabrera said. "You've got to want to do it in life. You can't throw it away. So I've got to focus. I can't wait until I'm 31 or 32. I've got to do it now.''

Judging by his fit look, those aren't just words, either.

Around the Majors

• Ryan Howard can probably thank Cabrera for winning his arbitration case at $10 million. The Phillies probably goofed by submitting a figure -- $7 million -- that was below the $7.4 million Cabrera got last year. Howard's agent Casey Close and union lawyers successfully argued that Howard comes under the category of "special accomplishments,'' which meant they could compare him to players a class ahead -- that meant Cabrera as a four-year player ($11.3 million) and Matt Holliday ($9.5 million). Thanks to the ruling, Howard has raised the arbitration bar for first-time eligible players.

• Pedro Martinez has been throwing without pain pills or ice. And one longtime Pedro watcher predicts, "He's going to win the Cy Young.'' Meanwhile, Martinez, 36, is telling friends he'd like to play a couple more years but probably not into his 40s. He understand the ball is in the Mets' court and that he can't approach them until he proves he's healthy.

• The Diamondbacks might try to find more at-bats for hard-hitting pitcher Micah Owings. But as D-backs GM Josh Byrnes pointed out, "His day job is pretty important to us.''

• Terry Francona deserved every bit of that three-year, $12 million extension. Next up next winter should be GM Theo Epstein, who's probably way underpaid at $1.8 million.

• Manny Ramirez would have to have a pretty bad season for Boston not to pick up his $20 million option for 2009.

• Coco Crisp hasn't exactly been a hot item in trade talks this winter.

• If there's a bargain in baseball, how about Colorado closer Manny Corpas for $8 million over four years?

• Talk about hard-headed: Larry Bowa told Los Angeles papers he's going to ignore the new rule requiring line coaches to wear helmets.

• It's hard to believe him, but Scott Proctor continues to insist he's happy to pitch for Joe Torre. And of course, pitch and pitch and pitch. As much as Torre used him in New York, it's amazing Proctor can still lift his arm.

• Maybe I'm showing my age, but I am going to miss Dodgertown. If the Orioles move there next year, "Birdland" just won't be the same.